Tata denies links with new Lake Natron soda ash plant plans

By Venancia.Ndoo, Tue, 31/07/2012 - 14:25

The Tata Group has denied any involvement in plans to mine soda ash at Engaruka area near Lake Natron. In March 2012, Mr. Cyril Chami who was then Tanzania’s Minister of Trade and Industry said that the government was talking to Tata Chemicals Ltd to set up a $450 million soda ash factory at Engaruka area, part of Lake Natron basin. The factory would exploit newly discovered 460 billion cubic litres of soda ash at Engaruka, and if the Tata deal went through, the Government of Tanzania would hold 46% shares through the National Development Corporation.

In a letter dated 27th June 2012, Tata’s Managing Director Mr. R. Mukundan said Tata was no longer involved in any developments at Lake Natron and had no intention of going back. “I would like to reiterate that as an outcome of a detailed business review Tata chemicals formally exited the Lake Natron development project on 29th January 2009. Tata Chemicals has not been involved with the Lake Natron project since that time and we are unaware of any current developments,” he said. The letter from Tata is the first direct evidence that indeed, Tata left Lake Natron.

Since 2006, the Government of Tanzania has been interested in building a soda ash facility at Lake Natron; an iconic lake which is the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor in the world. There are 1.5-2.5 million Lesser Flamingos in Eastern Africa (three-quarters of the global population) and all of them breed at Lake Natron. BirdLife International, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (BirdLife Partner), the Lake Natron Consultative Group (a coalition of 56 institutions globally campaigning for protection of Lake Natron) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in UK) opposed the government proposal citing concerns over damage to flamingo habitat and interference with the livelihoods of the local communities.

“BirdLife would like to commend Tata for this move and encourage the Tanzania Government to withdraw the soda ash plant plan in its entirety”, said Ken Mwathe the Ag. Policy and Advocacy Manager at BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat and Coordinator of the Lake Natron Consultative Group. “The future of Lake Natron and the local communities is better off without a soda ash plant. Tourism and improvement of livelihoods should be the key”, he added.

Comments

By Ken Mwathe on Thu, 02/08/2012 - 13:12

Thanks Praboth and Mike. We are hopeful too. The Government of Tanzania keeps giving mixed messages, that is why we would like them to withdraw the soda ash plans altogether. We are soon going to present an economic report showing soda ash mining is not economically viable. More to come, thanks

Tanzanian governor should consider build a touristic complex, with tour guides to lake Natron. In other words, change the point of view on how to create jobs in Tanzania. Good hotels and restaurants, guided tour guides to watch the birds in a way that not disturb their breed may be a very inteligent and sustainable way to explore the lake beauty.
And the most important. This kind of development will last longer!

Lesser flamingos are the flamingos of the lakes of Africa's Great Rift Valley. The Tata Group of Mumbai, produces everything from teabags to locomotives, and is run by Zoroastrian Parsis. It is hoped that this great conglomerate can be beneficial to the preservation of the lesser flamingos of East Africa. After all, the four sacred elements to the Zoroastrians are earth, fire, water, and wind.

Add new comment

Thanks to the efforts of the Association of Biologists Sãotomense (ABS) in partnership with BirdLife International, a team of researchers led by Hugulay Maia has been able to describe some important aspects of the reproductivce behaviour of the Dwarft Ibis in São Tomé.

The Liberian Government has been undertaking some admirable steps as part of efforts to conserve the remaining disappearing West Africa Upper Guinea Forest Ecoregion; a biogeographic region which is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot of global i

The role played by biodiversity and ecosystem services in helping people adapt to climate change was reinforced during the first United Nation Environmental Assembly (UNEA) of the UNEP, held in Nairobi, Kenya, la

In Europe, millions of migratory birds are stirring. They are busy feeding to build up their fat reserves (gaining up to 50% more body weight) to fuel the enormous flights to Africa they will face in the next few weeks.